Alzheimer Disease and Music-Therapy: An Interesting Therapeutic Challenge and Proposal

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to highlight the effectiveness of music therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and their caregivers. Methods: The biennial 2019 to 2020, 32 patients, with AD (ICD-10), were examined, by a research group composed by a Neurologist, a GP and a Music-psychotherapist. All patients were under pharmaceutical care. The patients’ medical record and musical profile was assessed. The answers were provided by the patients themselves or by their tutors. Then, personal or family sessions were organized with the participation of musical instruments. The patients staging and evaluation were made through MMSE. The test was repeated every six months under the Neurologist’s supervision. Finally, 31 totally patients succeeded to complete our intervention and to be estimated. Results: The duration of follow-up of the patients was 30 months. At the beginning and end of the sessions we obtained the following data: In a total of 32 patients with AD, initially 3 patients (9.37%) had Mild AD, 19 patients (59.37%) had Moderate AD, 10 patients (31.25%) severe AD, based on the MMSE evaluation. After 30 months, 11 patients had Mild AD (35.48%), number resulting from the music benefit of cognitive function in patients with moderate AD. 15 patients with Moderate AD (48.38%) were observed, out of the initial 19 (59.37%) patients with Moderate AD, a number attributed to the sum of patients who improved from severe AD and those who were transferred, benefiting from treatment, from Moderate AD disease to Mild AD. Finally 5 patients with severe AD disease were evaluated (16.12%), while before the treatment we had 10 patients (31.25%) with severe AD. Conclusions: Music therapy is a tool to increase the life quality of the participants. The results expected in the treatment of AD are obtained by means of good collaboration among the research team.